Can opener with removable hand lever and cutting element

ABSTRACT

An electrically powered can opener has a cutter wheel carrying hand lever pivotally attached to its forward upright frame by an elongate pin member. A spring biased latch is pivotally affixed to the inner surface of the upright frame and located relative to an aperture therein so that the latch releasably locks the pin member (and the hand lever) to the can opener frame. The inwardly extending pin member of the pin assembly is selectively grooved so that when same is in a preselected position, the groove is engaged by the latch and when the hand lever is rotated to a preselected position, the spring biased latch rides out of the groove in the pin member allowing the hand lever to be removed from the aperture in the can opener frame.

United States Patent Scott etal.

[15] 3,654,698 (451 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE 21 Appl. No.: 867,231

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,508,331 4/1970 Scott ..30/4

3 ,520,056 7/ 1970 Scott ..30/4

Primary ExaminerAndrew R. J uhasz Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Attorney-Scofield, Kokjer, Scofield & Lowe [57] ABSTRACT An electrically powered can opener has a cutter wheel carrying hand lever pivotally attached to its forward upright frame by an elongate pin member. A spring biased latch is pivotally affixed to the inner surface of the upright frame and located relative to an aperture therein so that the latch releasably locks the pin member (and the hand lever) to the can opener frame. The inwardly extending pin member of the pin assembly is selectively grooved so that when same is in a preselected position, the groove is engaged by the latch and when the hand lever is rotated to a preselected position, the spring biased latch rides out of the groove in the pin member allowing the hand lever to be removed from the aperture in the can opener frame.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 19?: 3,654,698

Haber? J. Jcmf INVENTOR Lea fibener CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE HAND LEVER AND CUTTING ELEMENT BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As mentioned in the Robert J. Scott patent application entitled REMOVABLE HAND LEVER CONSTRUCTION," filed Jan. 15, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,520,056 issuing July 14, 1970 Ser. No. 697,977, and which is owned by the same assignee, conventional electrically powered can openers with permanently affixed cutting elements are difficult to clean and maintain completely sanitary.

The invention disclosed herein utilizes the unique cooperation of the inwardly extending pin member of the hand lever pin assembly and a spring biased latch so that the hand lever which carries the cutting element thereon may be removed by selectively rotating the lever to the latch-release position.

To facilitate the latching of the hand lever to the can opener frame, the above-mentioned pin assembly has a pin member which extends through a selectively sized aperture in the can opener frame. The spring biased latch member mentioned above is pivotally mounted with respect to the frame and biased so that the rearward end extremity of the upper portion of the aperture is covered by the spring biased latch. The insertion of the pin member earns the spring biased latch upwardly and allows same to slide over the end portion of the pin member and to become engaged within the semiannular groove in the pin member. Accordingly, normal operation of the hand lever will be within the defining limits of the groove thereby retaining groove-latch contact. When it is desired to wash and clean the cutting element, the hand lever may be pivoted in a direction away from its normal operating positions so that the latch moves out of the semiannular groove and rides up on the upper cylindrical surface of the pin member thereby permitting the lever and pin assembly to be withdrawn from the aperture since the latch is no longer in groove engagement.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide, in a can opener of the type wherein the cutting element is carried by and moved into and out of a cutting position by a hand lever assembly substantially pivoted to the body or frame of a can opener, a readily removable can piercing hand lever assembly which is retained in the can opener frame by uniquely constructed spring biased latch. An important feature of this object is that the hand lever may be either removed from the frame or reassembled within the frame without the use of push buttons or other similar mechanically operated latch controlling mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily removable can piercing lever assembly which is rugged and durable yet which economizes on the number of moving parts and which insures firm lever engagement within the can opener frame when in its normal operating positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener having a readily removable can piercing hand lever of the character described which includes a uniquely constructed latch and cooperating pin member, said latch and pin member being of a preselected design to permit pivotal movement of the lever for the normal operation thereof but which allows either removal of the lever and pin member or permits same to be reattached to the can opener frame by merely properly locating the lever and pin member relative to the frame and slidably moving the lever assembly in the appropriate direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a front fragmentary elevational view of a powered operated can opener with a removable can piercing lever assembly and with the operating parts shown in the normal operating or rest position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the can opener upright frame and lever assembly of FIG. 1 showing the spring biased latch and pin member in the engaged lever retaining position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the latch engaged within the semiannular groove of the pin member;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 with the lever assembly rotated to permit the removal of same from the can opener main frame.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral 10 generally designates a body or frame of a typical electrically operated can opener. The principal portion of the frame shown in the various views is adapted to cooperate with an open front box-like casing and operates to support the various parts of the can opener.

A serrated or toothed rotary can feed wheel 11 is operatively located on the forward side of frame 10. A feed wheel drive shaft 12 extends through frame 10 and is rotatably supported in an appropriately bearinged aperture in a thickened portion of frame 10. An electric motor means (not shown) rotates shaft 12 and drives feed wheel 11 in a conventional manner.

The subject invention is conveniently utilized with a pivotal can piercing hand lever 13 located forwardly of frame 10 so as to provide a movable support for cutter wheel 14 which is mounted for free rotation on the usual stud or arbor anchored in lever 13 and held on the arbor by screw 15. Hand lever 13 is mounted on an elongate pin assembly which extends through a suitable fitted aperture in the lower left-hand portion of the lever (see FIG. 1) and which is fixedly secured thereto. As clearly seen in FIG. 4, the forward or outwardly extending portion of the pin assembly includes a cylindrical rod-like projection 16 which functions as a can guide. The intermediate portion of the pin assembly includes an externally threaded section 16a which cooperates with the above-mentioned threaded aperture in lever 13 to facilitate the longitudinal location of same on section 1611. A jam nut 17 occupies the forward portion of the intermediate threaded area for fixedly positioning the hand lever in an optimum location relative to the other portions of the pin assembly.

The rearward extending portion of the pin assembly includes the generally rod or shaft-like rearwardly extending pin member 16b having a semiannular groove 16c in the rearward end portion thereof. Pin member 16b is rotatably positioned within an aperture in a thickened portion or boss 10a of the front frame 10 as suggested above.

Turning now more particularly to a detailed description of the lever assembly and the locking or retaining means associated therewith, latch 18 is pivotally affixed at one end thereof to the inner surface of frame 10 by means of shoulder screw 19 which threadably engages an embossed portion of frame 10 in a conventional manner. Latch 18 is conveniently shaped as shown in the various figures so as to approximate a right angle section with a notch or shaft engaging portion occupying the vertex of the right angle. When attached via shoulder screw 19 to frame 10 by extending same through a suitable aperture in the left end portion of latch 18 (as seen in FIG. 4), the latch lies in a plane an equal distance with the vertical plane of the end extremity of boss 10a from frame 10. In this manner, when screw 19 is sufficiently tightened against latch 18, yet permitting the pivotal movement thereof, latch 18 swings in an arc coincident with the inner opening in boss 10a. The lower right-hand end portion of latch 18 is suitably apertured to permit tension spring 20 (spring 20 is anchored at its lower end to frame 10 by screw 20a) to be connected thereby urging latch 18 to move in a clockwise direction (as seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5).

In operation, hand lever 13 is pivotally attached to frame 10 when the pin assembly (more particularly pin member 16) extends through the aperture in frame 10 and boss frame 10a so that the spring biased latch member 16 may be engaged within the semiannular groove 160. When in this position, hand lever 13 may be operatively moved between a can receiving and a can piercing position which are the conventional desired positions of an electrically operated can opener of this nature. When it is desired to remove hand lever 13 (and cutter wheel 14 along therewith) from frame 10, it is only necessary to rotate hand lever to substantially the position shown in FIG. 5 and to withdraw same from frame 10. With the rotation of hand lever 13 to the solid line position of FIG. 5, the spring biased latch 18 rides out of annular groove 16c and onto the external surface of pin member 16. In this last mentioned position, there are no cooperating contacting surfaces which would restrain the pin assembly and hand movement from lateral withdrawal from frame thereby enabling the lever assembly to be easily removed from the can opener frame.

When it is desired to reinsert lever 13 in can opener frame 10, the pin member 16 of the pin assembly is aligned with the aperture end frame 10 and boss 10a and forced therein. Latch 16 is prevented from covering the interior opening of the aperture in boss 10a by the presence of a forwardly extending lug 18a which engages the upper surface of boss 10:: and holds latch 18 in position to receive pin member 16b. As a result, the forward flat surface of latch 16 will not cover the aperture in boss 10 nor fall below same. When pin member 16 enters the aperture, the beveled rearward end portion 16d (FIG. 3) of the pin member initially comes in contact with latch 16 forcing same upwardly in a camming fashion. Eventually, latch member 16 rides on top of the cylindrical surface of the pin member 16 and is biased by spring 20 to forceably move within the semiannular groove 160 when aligned therewith. This latch position once again restrains the hand lever but allows the necessary pivotal movement for normal operation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In an can opener having an upright frame, a rotary feed wheel and a means for rotating said feed wheel the combination therewith of:

a hand lever movably supported on the frame of said can opener and carrying a cutting element thereon,

a latch, said latch supported on one of said lever and said frame,

a pin member supported from the other of said lever and to said frame for movement between a first position adjacent said feed wheel and a second position above said feed wheel but precluding removal of said lever from said frame when said latch is engaged within said groove, said latch being engaged in said groove when said lever is in or between said first and second positions, said lever rotatively movable to a third position spaced away from said first and second positions wherein said latch contacts said non-grooved surface of said pin member and is thereby precluded from being engaged within said groove, said lever thereby being removable from said frame solely by the rotative manipulation of said lever to said third position and accompanying relative movement of said pin member and said latch.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said latch is pivotally connected to said frame and wherein said pin member extends from said lever, an opening defined in said frame, said pin member extending through said opening when said lever is attached to said frame, and said latch being engaged within said groove to preclude removal of said lever from said frame.

. The invention as in claim 2 wherem said groove has two end portions, with at least a portion of said pin member surface located therebetween, said third position of said lever rotating said pin member so that said groove moves out of contact with said latch, said latch contacting said pin member surface between said two grooved end portions when said lever is in said third position thereby permitting removal of said hand lever from said frame.

4. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said latch includes a lug, said lug extending from said latch and operable to contact a portion of said frame thereby locating said latch relative to said opening in said frame for engagement with said groove when said pin member is moved interiorly of said frame.

5. The invention as in claim 4 wherein said latch is spring biased towards the axis of said pin member when said pin member is located within said frame.

6. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said latch is spring biased towards said pin member when said pin member is located within said frame, said latch having a lug extending therefrom and contacting a portion of said frame to locate said latch so that said opening is partially covered by said latch absent said pin member, said pin member having a beveled end portion, said beveled end portion operable to engage said latch as it is being moved interiorly of said opening and to cam said latch away from said opening thereby permitting said pin member to move relative to said latch until said latch is located within said groove.

7. The invention as in claim 6 wherein said groove has two end portions with at least a portion of said pin member surface located therebetween, said third position of said lever to rotating said pin member so that said groove moves out of contact with said latch and into contact with said pin member surface between said two grooved end portions thereby permitting the removal of said lever from said can opener frame. 

1. In an can opener having an upright frame, a rotary feed wheel and a means for rotating said feed wheel the combination therewith of: a hand lever movably supported on the frame of said can opener and carrying a cutting element thereon, a latch, said latch supported on one of said lever and said frame, a pin member supported from the other of said lever and said frame and having relative movement with said latch, said pin member having a groove defined in the surface in one portion thereof and a non-grooved surface immediately adjacent thereto, said groove operable to permit said latch to become engaged therein, said latch and said pin member cooperating to connect said hand lever to said frame for movement between a first position adjacent said feed wheel and a second position above said feed wheel but precluding removal of said lever from said frame when said latch is engaged within said groove, said latch being engaged in said groove when said lever is in or between said first and second positions, said lever rotatively movable to a third position spaced away from said first and second positions wherein said latch contacts said non-grooved surface of said pin member and is thereby precluded from being engaged within said groove, said lever thereby being removable from said frame solely by the rotative manipulation of said lever to said third position and accompanying relative movement of said pin member and said latch.
 2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said latch is pivotally connected to said frame and wherein said pin member extends from said lever, an opening defined in said frame, said pin member extending through said opening when said lever is attached to said frame, and said latch being engaged within said groove to preclude removal of said lever from said frame.
 3. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said groove has two end portions, with at least a portion of said pin member surface located therebetween, said third position of said lever rotating said pin member so that said groove moves out of contact with said latch, said latch contacting said pin member surface between said two grooved end portions when said lever is in said third position thereby permitting removal of said hand lever from said frame.
 4. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said latch includes a lug, said lug extending from said latch and operable to contact a portion of said frame thereby locating said latch relative to said opening in said frame for engagement with said groove when said pin member is moved interiorly of said frame.
 5. The invention as in claim 4 wherein said latch is spring biased towards the axis of said pin member when said pin member is located within said frame.
 6. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said latch is spring biased towards said pin member when said pin member is located within said frame, said latch having a lug extending therefrom and contacting a portion of said frame to locate said latch so that said opening is partially covered by said latch absent said pin member, said pin member having a beveled end portion, said beveled end portion operable to engage said latch as it is being moved interiorly of said opening and to cam said latch away from said opening thereby permitting said pin member to move relative to said latch until said latch is located within said groove.
 7. The invention as in claim 6 wherein said groove has two end portions with at least a portion of said pin member surface located therebetween, said third position of said lever to rotating said pin member so that said groove moves out of contact with said latch and into contact with said pin member surface between said two grooved end portions thereby permitting the removal of said lever from said can opener frame. 